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Minor premiers Takapuna found themselves in an almighty scrap with Northcote, who scraped into the semifinals, but were highly motivated following the passing of life member and the club's first All Black 'Snow' White.

Takapuna led 21-17 at halftime, but had to contend with a hat-trick to Blues squad wing Afa Fa'atau and tries to the Law brothers, Callum and Sean. Northcote in fact outscored Takapuna six tries to five, but as has been so often the case over the years, the boot of Jon Elrick proved decisive. He kicked 16 points and scored a try for a 21-point haul. His brother Nick also crossed for a try. It was tit for tat as the lead changed hands several times.

In the other major semifinal North Shore and Massey simply wore each other down.

Neither side got into the other's 22m zone for virtually the whole game with only penalty goals turning the scoreboard over. At 6-all at the break, North Shore turned into the wind and had their one dominant period for the first five minutes of the second spell, culminating in a penalty goal. They carried the 9-6 scoreline to the 80 minute mark, but did not bank on five minutes of time added on. A knock-on at the base of the scrum, followed by a hard-charging Massey pack saw North Shore scrambling on their tryline and ultimately conceding the winning try to Mark Telea - his 12th for the season - well into the referee's time.

East Coast Bays comfortably disposed of Western Pioneers (47-24), who now hang up their jerseys for good, as their merger is now disbanded. They will revert to their previous incarnations as Kumeu and Helensville. In the other Bowl semifinal, Glenfield also did a demolition job on Silverdale 47-19, with Blues and North Harbour midfielder Michael Little setting some sort of record with five tries to set up a decider with Bays on Saturday.

The plate final saw Mahurangi finish off Marist 21-11 in a spirited contest.

It was a red-letter day in the long history of the College Rifles club.After copping an 18-0 halftime deficit at the hands of visitors Ponsonby, the Rifles men's premier side clawed their way back into the contest to eventually prevail 22-21.

The victory gave them a trifecta of trophies, the Alan McEvoy Memorial Shield for the first time since 1973, the Sir Fred Allen Memorial Challenge Cup, which they will keep for the summer, and the Comradery Cup for competition between Rifles and Ponies.To cap off a momentous day, the College Rifles Thunderbirds, which once ruled the union in premier women's rugby, won the Coleman Shield 7-5 over Ardmore-Marist thanks to a last gasp try by Canadian international Andrea Burk, which she converted from the sideline.

The Rifles-Ponies clash looked to be a one-sided affair after Rifles gave a flat first half display. Ponsonby fullback Freedom Vaha'akolo scored the opening try as the visitors hogged possession. Wing Joseph Beckett scored, returning a poor clearance from 30m for a soft try. Ponies were working box kicks to pressure the Rifles' defence and the tactics appeared to be working.

But Rifles emerged a different side after the break, their scrum ascendancy started paying off, and the industriousness of inspirational captain and No 8 Hayden Edwards and the lineout work and energy of Jeremy Innes told. Lock Josh Brajkovic also brought intensity, as did replacement loose forward Tana Fotofili.

Fullback Otu Mausia scored after a break by first five Rocky Khan, while prolific wing Joseva Ravouvou, destined for Auckland honours, slipped two tackles to score in the corner.

Edwards fired off the back of a scrum to score and reduce the margin to two. It was left to Mausia to kick a 70th minute penalty for the lead, which Rifles never relinquished.In the Gallaher Shield semifinals, Rifles will host defending champions Grammar TEC, who qualified fourth - and are the only 2015 semifinalist back in this season's playoffs - after edging Waitemata 26-23 at Orakei Domain. Slippery wing Kitione Taimani scored a double.

Ponsonby slipped to third and will travel to Shadbolt Park to face Suburbs, who trounced Pakuranga 34-5 with five tries to one. This will be Suburbs' first semifinal since 2013.Papatoetoe moved up to fifth after beating Marist 27-10.

Defending McNamara Cup premier champions Bombay secured their place in next Saturday's final with a 31-16 win over Pukekohe on the hill.

The hosts got off to a flying start and went into the halftime break with four tries and a 25-6 lead. To the fore for Bombay were lock Matiaha Martin, not only in the lineout but also on defence, Kalolo Tuiloma, halfback Liam Daniela, openside flanker Mitchell Thackham and former Manu Samoa No 10 Ki Anufe.

In the other semifinal, Ardmore Marist clinched a 14-13 victory, overturning a 3-0 halftime deficit, over 2014-15 finalists Karaka. A late try to Louis Kapetani, converted by Luteru Laulala, sealed the victory. It was a fine day for Ardmore-Marist, with three teams qualifying for the finals, and their premier women just seconds from victory in the final of the Auckland competition.

In the Sid Marshall Shield semifinals, Patumahoe defeated a spirited Manurewa 36-21. The home side had a 17-8 lead at halftime. Alex Eruera and Harley Jenkins each scored a brace of tries for Patumahoe, while Jonny Wilkinson and Sam Furniss also dotted down. Onewhero had a tight tussle with Waiuku to win 27-21, after going down to their third halfback due to injury. Steelers No 9 Richard Judd left with a cut head.Hooker Andrew Jones scored a couple of nice tries for Onewhero, while lock Leroy Jack played well, and prop Robert Katu was named player of the day.